Panorama Europe 2010

Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and Council, the Energy
Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), lays down requirements on:

the general framework for a methodology of calculation of the
integrated energy performance of buildings;

the application of minimum requirements on the energy
performance of new buildings;

the application of minimum requirements on the energy
performance of large existing buildings that are
subject to major renovation;

energy performance certification of buildings; and

regular inspection of boilers and of air-conditioning
systems in buildings and in addition an assessment of
the heating installation in which the boilers are more
than 15 years old.

These requirements were be implemented by the 25 EU Member States.The deadline for implementation was January 4, 2006. Only for the 2 last
requirements (certifications and inspections), Member States were allowed,
because of lack of qualified and/or accredited experts, to have an additional
period of three years (before January 2009) to apply fully.

Within these general principles and objectives, each EU Member State has the
responsibility to choose measures that correspond best to its particular
situation (subsidiarity principle).Major work efforts have been conducted under the energy
and transport directorate of the European Commission to develop harmonized
methods for implementation of the EPBD.Governments are sensitive to accusations of making implementation of
European Directives too complex, but there is validity to the concern that a
minimum implementation of the EPBD might be more disruptive than a
well-integrated one.

The EPBD is currently being adjusted in light of experience. The European
Commission proposed amendments that will require additional developments to be
fully implemented, some possibly not till 2011, and then Member States will
have 2–3 years for their adoption and implementation.

A new organization, the Buildings Performance Institute
Europe, has recently been started. From the BPIE website, “The
Institute will act both as a centre of expertise on all aspects of energy
efficiency and energy performance in European buildings and as the European
centre for a global Best Practice Network on energy efficiency in
buildings.”

While Europe has an advantage in having legislation
that directs energy efficiency in buildings, the methods needed still have a
way to go. Europe remains overly distracted by sutainability topics
and the push for expensive renewable energy. Energy goals
remain elusive, as the distraction of “zero energy” becomes a
goal in itself, however unattainable.

The European Commission in February 2010 revised the Commissioner
portfolios, separating transport and energy and adding climate action.
Energy now stands by itself, and the climate action portfolio may
allow potential for better action on more achievable short-term goals,
but the reorganization is likely to take up most of the year 2010.
The name “climate action” does not raise hope for
more reasonable approaches though.